Fastening device



Aug 14, 1934.

l. N. DE MARTINEZ FASTENING DEVICE Original Filed April 6, 1929 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Aug. 14, 1934 PATENT OFFICE FASTENING DEVICE Isabel N. de Martinez, New York, N. Y., asslgnor to Hookless Fastener Company. a corporation 01 Pennsylvania Application April 6, 1929, Serial No. 353,032 Renewed October 10, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in articles employing separable fasteners and espec'ally to articles of wearing apparel such as ladies hose and supporters therefor.

The primary object of my invention is to pro-' vide a device adapted to be separated into two parts along an endless line with completely separable,slider controlled fastening means attached to the opposite edges of said parts. 1 Another object is to provide a novel means for retaining a slider adjacent the end of a fastener stringer while the parts of the fastener are separated.

Another object of the invention is to provide 35 a leg encircling band adapted to be freely suspended about the leg of the wearer, and to which the top of the stocking is detachably connected by the use of a continuous fastening device.

A still further object is to provide an expeditious means by which the stocking may be secured to its supporter.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved 30 hose and supporter therefor in position upon a wearer which illustrates one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the hose separated from the supporter.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view showing the combined extension track and separating stop for the actuating device.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a slight modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawing to describe specifically the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a leg band constructed of any suitable non-elastic material and which may be of a size'to snugly fit the leg of a wearer. This band when attached M to the stocking forms a continuation thereof and may be considered a part of the stocking itself. Provided on the front and rear top edge of the band are tabs 11 which are provided with eyes 12 for the attachment of adjustable suspender straps 13 which depend from the corset, girdle or garter belt in the usual manner. These straps are provided with adjusting clasps or buckles 15 by which the length of the straps may be adjusted to suit the individual. Stitched to the outer side of the band 10 and extending entirely therearound is a flexible separable fastener stringer 16 which is stitched to the band as at 16' and which stringer includes spaced interlocking elements 17 extending around the peripheral edge of the band continuously except for a single blank portion of inconsiderable length for a purpose to be presently described. Adjacent one end of the blank portion, the band is provided with a separating stop which, in the present instance, is formed as a hook l8 and which is disposed approximately at the front of the band. Stitched to the band adjacent the top edge thereof and depending downward over the flexible stringer is a rubber shield or skirt 19 which may be colored to add attractiveness to the band and the lower edge of which may be gathered or rufiied to lend to the ornamentation of the same. Slidably mounted upon the interlocking elements 17 is an actuating slider 20 which embraces the interlocking elements whereby the same may be moved along the stringers in the locking and unlocking of the elements with their co-acting elements which will be presently explained.

A ladys silk stocking is shown at 21 and stitched to the open top edge of the same is a flexible stringer 22, carrying interlocking elements 23 which may if desired extend beyond the top of the stocking as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing. This row of interlocking elements 23 extends around the peripheral edge of the stocking continuously except for a single blank portion of inconsiderable length. By inconsiderable length as here used is meant of such small length as to prevent gaping of the edges at such blank portions when the parts of the device are fastened together. With very flimsy material such as silk, this space should be reduced to a minimum butmay be slightly larger when the article is made of heavier and stiffer materials. Attached to the blank portions adjacent the fastener elements on one side is a pair of U-shaped stop members 25 and 26 as usual in such fasteners. At the other end of the blank portion on the stocking may be connected an eye 24 or similar fastening device for detachable connection with the cooperating fastening device 18 on the other stringer. The interlocking elements 23 may be identical to the interlocking elements 17 of the leg band and together with the actuating slide member 20; constitute swell-known type of fastener now on the market in which the interlocking elements are brought progressively into co-acting engagement with each other by the sliding of the actuating member in one direction and which may be unlocked upon sliding of the actuating member in an opposite direction. It will be noted that the two stringers are entirely separable from each other and to permit such separation, one of the side inturned flanges of the body of the actuating member is dispensed with. which enables the interlocking elements on the stocking to be brought into operative relation with a fully open position to enable the same to receive the end interlocking elements 23 on the stringer 22. The actuating member is held in its open position against accidental sliding by a spring arm 28 also formed integral with the hook and bar and beneath which the member 20 rides. The hook portion 18 of the member which has just been described forms an abutment or stop for the slider to prevent the latter from moving over the blank portions as well as to provide a convenient connecting device for the eye 24.

In the use of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, assume that the leg band 10 is in position upon the leg of the wearer a suitable distance above the knee and it is desired to fasten a stocking thereto. The stocking is applied to the leg in the usual manner and brought up to meet the band whereupon the eye 24 is connected to the hook 18. The actuating member 20 is of course in position upon the rail or arm 27 adjacent the hook 18 whereupon the interlocking elements 23 are inserted into position within the body of the actuating member. The stocking having been initially connected to the leg band by the hook and eye, the final fastening may now be accomplished by pulling upon the actuating member causing the same to slide about the band and come to a stop, when reaching the stop eyes 25 and 26. This fastening device closes the entire joint between the band and the top of the stocking. Thus it will be seen that my invention produces a neat and efficient means for detachably connecting any two parts similar to those illustrated. The

rubber skirt or shield 19 serves to prevent any entanglement of a wearer's undergarment between the interlocking elements which might tend to interfere with the locking and unlocking of the same.

In Figure 6 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification of my invention wherein the leg encircling band 10 is substantially identical to that shown in the preferred form but instead of the band being connected directly to the suspender straps, the said bandmay be provided with front and rear eyes 29 which are adapted to connect. with the usual garter clasps or hose supporters of the suspender type. The manner of connecting the hose or stocking to the band is the same as that previously described and a fur, ther explanation is not deemed necessary.

While I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many variations and embodiments may occur which do not depart from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself except by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements on their adjacent edges, a slider movable along said elements to progressively engage and release the same, and a connecting device comprising separable parts carried by said stringers to permit complete separation of the stringers, a stop provided by one of said parts for limiting movement of the slider in one direction, and a spring extension on said part which provides the stop, adapted to engage the outside of said slider for retaining the same in position adjacent said stop.

2. In combination, a pair of members of flexible material adapted to be joined together along adjacent endless edges so that one part may be completely separated from the other part, slide fastening means having rows of progressively engageable elements on the separableedges of said members for fastening said parts together, said rows of elements extending substantially all the .way along the edges of said members except for a single blank portion, an additional connecting device on the blank portions of said edges comprising two separable parts one of which forms a stop for the slider, and spring means carried by said stop member adapted to engage the side of said slider for retaining same in position.

3. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements on their adjacent edges, a slider movable along said elements for progressively engaging and releasing ,the same, an initial connecting device comprising 7,

separable parts carried by the stringers adapted to permit complete separation of the stringers, one of said parts having a stop for limiting movement of the slider, and said part having the stop also having a pair of arms between which an outer side wall of the slider passes for holding the slider in definite position while adjacent said stop.

ISABEL N. nr: MARTINEZ. 

